I'll be appearing on Memfault's Interrupt Live on Thursday (Apr 10th, 2025), and one of the questions that I want to answer is:
Where is Rust being used on production embedded devices today?
This is a question I get asked often, so I wanted to put together a list of projects I am aware of, cited as best as I can, so that I (or others presenting on the topic) can reuse it. This list includes both embedded linux as well as bare-metal/RTOS usage of Rust, as it is not always clear to separate from public information where it used.
This is certainly not an exhaustive list, just public examples I was able to cite, or information that was sent to me with the approval to publish.
If there's something you want me to add, or something I got wrong, send me an email!
Root of Trust and Security Key processors
There are more than a few production "Root of Trust" processors, that act as secure processing elements. These are often ARM or RISC-V based processors, sometimes as microcontrollers, and sometimes as microprocessors.
- Google uses Rust for a few projects:
- The Ti50 firmware for Google Security Chip in Chromebooks
- The OpenSK security key uses Rust
- The OpenTitan project uses an OS written in Rust
- Microsoft's Pluton has Rust based firmware
- AWS' Nitro System uses Rust components, including secure enclaves
- Oxide Computers uses Rust on the LPC55S69 from NXP for their Root of Trust
- SoloKeys uses Rust for their Trussed security key libraries
Laptop and Server firmware
Rust is used on a number of "motherboard" type applications for laptop and server devices.
- The Framework Laptop 16 Input Module (RP2040 based) firmware and software is written in Rust
- Microsoft's Surface Laptop UEFI firmware and potentially other firmware components are written in Rust
- Oxide Computers uses Rust on their STM32 based Service Processors, similar to BMC components on other server systems
Automotive and Avionics Usage
Rust has begun making its way into safety critical industries as well, particularly automotive, as well as avionics.
- Volvo ships a Rust based low-power ECU in a non-safety context
- Renault/Ampere has started using Rust for security and ADAS applications
- ETAS uses Rust for developing ADAS/AD components
- Airhart uses Rust for their onboard software, currently experimental, with plans to certify for wider use
There are also a number of safety-qualified Rust compilers available now, including:
- Ferrocene, from Ferrous Systems, qualified for ISO 26262 (ASIL D), IEC 61508 (SIL 4) and IEC 62304
- HighTec, which focuses on Infineon AURIX and STMicro's ARM based Stellar platforms
- AdaCore's GNAT Pro for Rust, which focuses on integration between Rust and Ada based code
The Rust Foundation also hosts a Safety Critical Rust Consortium for interested parties.
Robotics, Industrial, Space Usage
Rust is making its way into robotics areas, particularly for important tasks such as machine vision, sensor management, and other connected components.
- Matic uses Rust for their vacuum cleaner/mop robots
- Sonair's robotics 3D sensor platform is using Rust for IEC61508 safety-certified usage
- Mobilaris uses Rust for UWB-based positioning, used for automated surveying and collision avoidance
- AMP uses Rust for their trash sorting robots
- The lighting controller for the IJboulevard lighting at Amsterdam Centraal uses an RTIC based Rust firmware
- Grus BV has shipped a BLE vibration monitor for industrial pump monitoring
- Scythe Robotics uses Rust for their autonomous lawn mowing robots
- Ullmanna uses Rust on embedded linux and firmware for automated Agricultural weeding systems
- The ARTIQ/Sinara ecosystem uses Embedded Rust on VexRiscv, Zynq, and STM32 devices, and is used to control optical atomic clocks and quantum computers both in fundamental research and in industry.
- SC Robotics uses Rust on their Dark Sky light meter sensor platform
- The Robotics and AI Institute has just selected Rust on STM32 devices for robotics firmware development
- GAMA Space uses Rust for their Solar Sails control system
Appliances, Smarthome Usage
Commercial device manufacturers do not typically talk about what goes into their firmware components, but I was able to find quite a few vendors, large and small, that have discussed their usage of Rust:
- Samsung's SmartThings platform is written in Rust, including appliance firmware components
- Akiles' office/hotel key devices use Rust for all firmware, and are the maintainers of the
popular
embassyasync/await framework, as well as a number of Bluetooth Low Energy libraries in Rust - Kelvin's new generation Cozy smart radiator cover has firmware in Rust
- LUCI wheelchairs have used Rust on embedded linux, and are beginning to use it in firmware as well
- SuperCritical's Redshift 6 uses Rust for the firmware
- The GR-MEGA granular hardware synthesizer uses Rust for its firmware
- Elektron, the maker of the Digitone and Digitakt has had job postings for a "Rust Audio Developer" position, mentioning the "Code base is primarily Rust", likely on the embedded linux side
Community Numbers
The Rust community is generally active online in open source and community spaces, and the folks working on embedded systems in Rust are not an exception. The embedded Rust community primarily communicates and organizes using GitHub and Matrix chats. Some popular rooms and user counts (as of 2025-04-09):
- The Rust Embedded Matrix Room - 3371 users
- The esp-rs Matrix Room (for ESP32 devices) - 2461 users
- The Embassy Matrix Room - 1816 users
- The Probe-rs Matrix Room - 912 users
Additionally, the Awesome Embedded Rust list, which contains links to hundreds of libraries, teaching materials, community resources has 6840 stars on GitHub, and 211 contributors over 969 commits.
Survey Results
In 2024, the Rust Embedded Devices Working Group ran a Community Survey. This survey had approximately 1350 respondents. Some interesting responses include:
Where do you plan to use embedded Rust in the next 12 months?
| Response | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby/Personal Projects | 81.58% | 1098 |
| School/University Projects | 9.58% | 129 |
| Work/Professional Projects | 48.59% | 654 |
| Not currently, have in the past | 4.01% | 54 |
| Never used Rust | 6.61% | 89 |
| - | TOTAL | 1346 |
If you are using embedded Rust for work, how many embedded devices per year is your company shipping using Rust?
| Response | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Unsure/unable to disclose | 35.70% | 362 |
| Zero (internal/non-prod only) | 39.25% | 398 |
| 1-10 per year | 6.41% | 65 |
| 10-100 per year | 6.11% | 62 |
| 100-1000 per year | 6.02% | 61 |
| 1000-10000 per year | 2.66% | 27 |
| >10k per year | 3.85% | 39 |
What chip families are you planning to use embedded Rust with in the next 12 months?
| Response | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo (Ambiq) | 1.11% | 14 |
| ATSAM (Atmel/Microchip | 8.27% | 104 |
| ESP32 (Espressif Systems) | 51.87% | 652 |
| LPC or i.MX RT (NXP) | 8.19% | 103 |
| nRF (Nordic Semiconductor) | 25.30% | 318 |
| RP2xxx (Raspberry Pi) | 48.93% | 615 |
| STM32 (STMicroelectronics) | 57.76% | 726 |
| TI (Texas Instruments) | 5.81% | 73 |
| Other | 14.48 | 182 |
| - | TOTAL | 1257 |
How do you typically use embedded Rust in your firmware projects?
| Response | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusively Rust for firmware | 71.53% | 907 |
| Majority Rust, some other | 26.81% | 340 |
| Majority other, some Rust | 14.12% | 179 |
| No Rust | 9.78% | 124 |
| - | TOTAL | 1268 |
How happy are you with using Rust for embedded projects?
| Response | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1/5 | 0.85% | 9 |
| 2/5 | 3.30% | 35 |
| 3/5 | 17.64% | 187 |
| 4/5 | 47.45% | 503 |
| 5/5 | 30.75% | 326 |
| - | TOTAL | 1060 |